© 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Having started preparations for his 13th season, and with two seasons of his contract left to run, Rance decided the demands of the AFL were starting to hurt the other important areas of his life. “I was split between two worlds but I don’t regret a thing because I’ve learnt so much across the journey and met so many amazing people.

He is clearly one of the greatest players to have pulled on the Richmond jumper.”, “Alex has been the ultimate competitor, an incredible character of the Club, and a fine example of a Richmond Man. Champion Richmond defender Alex Rance has announced his retirement from AFL – effective immediately, to focus on his family and faith. Star Richmond defender Alex Rance has announced his retirement from the AFL.

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Alex Rance, the star Richmond defender and devout Jehovah’s Witness, has announced his shock retirement from the AFL to focus on his family and faith.

Rance grappled with getting the balance between faith, family and football right over the course of his 200-game career, nearly retiring in 2015.

It’s a huge day for footy, mates. On Tuesday, one of his defensive sidekicks Dylan Grimes told reporters that the champion 30 … Although the pre-Christmas timing of Rance's retirement is not ideal from a list management perspective, Richmond are not dwelling on that minor detail, more conscious of expressing gratitude for the role the grinning defender played in transforming the club from laughing stock to flag bearers. (@Richmond_FC) December 18, 2019. Rance retires to focus on family and faith. From a social media perspective, you can often find all players posting congratulations for milestone games, goals, family things etc.

But by Thursday, those close to the Tiger star were getting their heads around the finality of his decision rather than the fact he had made the call with two years remaining on a contract and was just months away from what promised to be an exciting return to play.

AFL superstar Alex Rance has split from his wife Georgia just days after he announced his shock retirement from the game. Tigers superstar Alex Rance has announced his immediate retirement from the AFL after suffering a setback during pre-season training.

7NEWS reporter Tom Browne revealed on Thursday morning that the 30-year-old key defender was stepping away from the game, despite having two years to run on a contract worth almost $1 million per season.
Five-time All-Australian, and 2017 premiership player, Alex Rance has called time on his decorated playing career to focus on his family and faith.https://t.co/h7DlTkw9Xy, — Richmond FC ????????

"He is clearly one of the greatest players to have pulled on the Richmond jumper.".

Alex Rance at Richmond training earlier this month.Credit:Getty Images.

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"I am someone who will always give their best to what they commit to, and I'm proud of the time, energy and dedication that I've put towards my football career.". Follow our live coverage for the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic.

There is nothing sinister behind his departure. From a social media perspective, you can often find all players posting congratulations for milestone games, goals, family things etc.

Tom Lynch speaks to the media about making it to his second Grand Final.

Premiership winner Alex Rance played 200 AFL games for Richmond and is a five-times All-Australian. I was divided.

A generational defender. The boys discuss what they are most proud of as a playing group in 2020. “It was really tough because I love those boys, I care about them a lot, but it’s now time for me to look after my own happiness and growth,” Rance said of breaking the news to his teammates. All rights reserved. Geelong's Tom Hawkins misses training session with sore throat ahead of grand final, Ash Barty 'surprised and honoured' to be asked to present AFL premiership cup, Sheffield Shield: Western Australia vs NSW, South Australia vs Tasmania, Broncos' Ali Brigginshaw wins Dally M female player of the year, An isolated AFL grand final week in Melbourne will be a vastly different kind of experience this year, Hotel quarantine inquiry seeks explanation from Sutton after emails contradict his evidence, Live: Victorian Government says constitutional challenge to lockdown restrictions has no legal merit, Footballer who 'didn't remember' dragging nurse down Melbourne laneway not guilty of sex crime, 'Vile, profane, vulgar': Lambie's ex-staffer details workplace complaints in unfair dismissal case, Federal Police to ask ICAC if Daryl Maguire had any involvement in airport land deal, Di spotted a man in a balaclava outside her house.

Also in his bones is a fierce competitor, one who might have seemed contradictory to him at times, and helped him earn five consecutive All-Australian selections from 2014-2018, win a best and fairest in 2015 and finish runner-up in the club champion award behind Dustin Martin in Richmond's drought-breaking premiership year of 2017. “He leaves this club a highly decorated premiership player and it has been a privilege for all us to watch him play,” Gale said. “Now I feel is the right time for me to put the same time and energy into other areas of my life that need it, and to prioritise the more important things to me, such as my spiritual growth, my family and friends.”. Star Richmond defender Alex Rance has announced his retirement from the AFL. The Richmond podcast…, Presented by Hostplus, Justin Leppitsch and Craig McRae speak to Richmond for the….

Rance grappled with getting the balance between faith, family and football right over the course of his 200-game career, nearly retiring in 2015. Champion Richmond defender Alex Rance has announced his retirement from AFL – effective immediately, to focus on his family and faith. Alex has been the ultimate competitor, an incredible character of the club, and a fine example of a Richmond man. MEMBERS – The Retirement Of Alex Rance.

The main focus of my life (now) is my spiritual growth ... to just devote more time and energy to that.”. David Astbury, Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes after Richmond's premiership win this year.Credit:Getty Images. The Tigers superstar, who announced his retirement on Thursday morning at the age of 30, is a devout Jehovah’s Witness, along with his wife Georgia and the… "Right now, I feel I have served my purpose in terms of my on-field performance and cultural impact, and I'm so grateful to the football club for their support and care in allowing me to do that in my own unique way," Rance said in a statement. It's surprising yet also entirely appropriate that champion Richmond defender Alex Rance retired from the AFL in the same unique way that he played the game at an elite level for over a decade. However in recent weeks, after the national draft and trade period, the club became aware that the questions Rance's always active mind posed about how he wanted to devote his time were getting louder. By signing up, you agree to Pedestrian Group's Terms of Service and consent to our Privacy Policy. His family, his faith, his work with the academy he began in 2016 were all drawing him closer, with football struggling to fulfil the often complex soul that is Rance. Immediately after the post-season break, the Tigers sensed Rance had returned with real purpose to attack 2020, his pleasure in his teammates' premiership success at the end of Richmond's triumphant 2019 one of the lasting memories of the season. He loved his friends and family and all the little rabbits.

All this came from the big-hearted place that makes him a good person and one the club and his teammates grew to love.

The Heir Apparent – Who Takes Rance’s Throne? Rance, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, reportedly almost walked away from the game following the Tigers’ breakthrough 2017 Premiership for similar reasons, but ultimately returned to the game in 2018, before his 2019 season was curtailed by injury. In bombshell AFL off-season news, gun Richmond Tigers player and almost inarguably the game’s best defender Alex Rance has announced his immediate retirement from footy, citing a … "Now I feel is the right time for me to put the same time and energy into other areas of my life that need it, and to prioritise the more important things to me, such as my spiritual growth, my family and friends," he said. Access to all standalone members articles as well as weekly wingman rankings.

Rance grappled with getting the balance between faith, family and football right over the course of his 200-game career, nearly retiring in 2015. "He leaves [Richmond] a highly decorated premiership player, and it has been a privilege for all us to watch him play.

Credit: Getty Images The 30-year-old played 200 games across 12 seasons with the Tigers and was named in the All-Australian team five years in a … Rance is considered comfortably the game’s premiere defender, and his 200-game career has returned a staggering five All-Australian selections, including the captaincy of the side in Richmond’s 2017 flag year. The same can be said for him as an individual.
Access to all podcasts. Club chief executive Brendon Gale paid tribute to the impact the defender has had at Richmond, both on and off the field. This content is for members only. (Use Cropper to set image and use mouse scroller for zoom image.).

This content is for members only.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said the defender would leave as one of Richmond's greatest ever players. Want to read more? “He leaves this Club a highly-decorated premiership player and it has been a privilege for all us to watch him play. There has always been something special about Alex Rance as a player.

Rance, 30, informed his teammates this morning that he was calling time on his 200-game career. Conspiracy thought - Alex Rance’s retirement It’s been covered through the media that the Richmond Football Club are a pretty tight playing group.

Want to read more? The beloved Richmond favourite reportedly told teammates of his decision to walk away from the game earlier this morning.